If Social Media existed back in the 1840s, what would our ancestors have been talking about? Taken from year books, Almanacs and newspapers, follows is a list of notable events that occurred in these years.
Includes disasters, severe weather, notable people, milestones, construction, inaugurations and other significant events. Obviously, this list references recorded events only and is not exhaustive.
JANUARY
- 5th – First N.S.W. Constitution proclaimed – 1843
- 22nd – Wellington New Zealand founded – 1840
- 24th – First Bishop of Melbourne arrived – 1843
- 29th – First Governor of New Zealand arrived – 1840
FEBRUARY
- 1st – Nelson, New Zealand formed – 1842
- 5th – First Judge appointed to Melbourne – 1841
- 10th – Queen Victoria married – 1840
- 15th – First mail to Mount Macedon – 1844
MARCH
- 13th – Boundaries of Melbourne proclaimed – 1843
- 18th – Princess Louisa born – 1848
- 20th – Melbourne Hospital founded – 1846
- 20th – Foundation stone laid for the Prince’s Bridge – 1846
- 23rd – Settlement of Otago – 1848
- 25th – Princess Alice born – 1843
APRIL
- 4th – Date of Leichhardt’s last letter – 1848
- 5th – First Supreme Court at Melbourne – 1841
- 6th – Antarctic expedition arrived at Hobart Town – 1840
- 12th – Supreme Court established, first Criminal Sessions in Melbourne – 1841
MAY
- 3rd – N. Z. declared independent – 1841
- 3rd – New Zealand declared independent of NSW – 1841
- 4th – Moreton Bay proclaimed – 1842
- 5th – Great meeting in Hobart Town against transportation – 1847
- 7th – First District Council elected in Sydney – 1844
- 11th – Wesleyan Church in Victoria founded – 1840
- 19th – Burra Burra Mines discovered in South Australia – 1844
- 21st – N.Z. proclaimed a British colony – 1840
- 22nd – Franklin sailed for the last time – 1845
- 25th – Sydney lighted with Gas – 1841
- 28th – Great Flood at Melbourne – 1848
- 30th – Queen Victoria shot at – 1842
JUNE
- 9th – Sheep first boiled down in Australia – 1843
- 24th Destructive fire in Melbourne – 1848
JULY
- 11th – Squatting regulations issued – 1845
- 21st – Convicts refused at Cape – 1849
AUGUST
- 2nd – Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy arrived at Sydney – 1846
- 6th – Prince Alfred born – 1844
- 12th – Old Post-office Melbourne opened – 1841
- 13th – Earthquake at Flinders Island – 1844
- 20th – Transportation to NSW ceased – 1840
SEPTEMBER
- 1st – Savings Bank established in Melbourne – 1841
- 9th – Coal discovered in Western Australia – 1846
- 12th – Chamber of commerce established at Launceston – 1849
- 22nd – Kennedy’s last Expedition – 1848
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
- 9th – Prince of Wales born – 1841
- 18th – Princess Royal born – 1840
- 22nd – Heavy Fall Snow in Hobart Town – 1849
DECEMBER
- 1st – First civic election in Melbourne – 1842
- 5th – First steamer arrived Western Australia – 1845
- 8th – Thermometer reading in Tasmania at 156 degrees in the sun – 1847
- 9th – Palmer elected first Mayor of Melbourne – 1842
- 22nd – Copper discovered in Western Australia – 1846